Update (Sep 6, 2026): The XLT03 is now shipping with a confirmed price of $279 as a bare tool (battery sold separately) and is available at Acme Tools and Home Depot. Makita lists a 3-year limited warranty. No kit option is offered. The $279 bare price puts it at the premium end of the angle-head class, so weigh it against the 390 ft-lbs nut-busting torque and the 15.5-inch reach before you buy.
Three sizes, one compact head
Makita added three angle-head impact wrenches to its 18V LXT platform on May 5: the XLT03Z (3/8" with friction ring), XLT04Z (1/2" with friction ring), and XLT05Z (1/2" with detent pin). All three share a 3-5/16" head height, low enough to fit in wheel wells, HVAC hangers, and overhead steel connections where a standard T-handle impact won’t clear.
Nut-busting torque is 390 ft-lbs across the lineup, which Makita says is the highest in the 18V angle-head class. Fastening torque lands at 250 ft-lbs. Speed control runs three ranges:
| Mode | RPM | IPM |
|---|---|---|
| Speed 1 | 0-1,000 | 0-1,800 |
| Speed 2 | 0-1,500 | 0-2,800 |
| Speed 3 | 0-3,200 | 0-4,000 |
Tool weight with battery is 4.0 lbs. All three ship bare, battery not included, which makes sense if you’re already running LXT on the job.
How it stacks up
Angle-head impact wrenches are a narrow specialty. Milwaukee’s closest comparison is the M18 FUEL Extended Reach series, which is a different geometry: longer reach on a straight head rather than a true 90-degree offset. At 390 ft-lbs nut-busting, the XLT series slots above most compact 18V impact drivers but below Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL mid-torque (450 ft-lbs) and well below high-torque territory.
The applications Makita targets, HVAC installation, automotive, railway maintenance, heavy equipment repair, steel framing, are trades where corded angle wrenches or pneumatics have historically held on because nothing cordless fit in the space. A 4.0-lb tool at 390 ft-lbs with a 3-5/16" head changes that math for most fastener sizes short of lug nuts on commercial trucks.
Additional features: Forward/Reverse Auto-Stop modes to prevent over-torquing, twin LEDs with afterglow, rubberized grip. Standard LXT battery compatibility, your existing 18V BL1820/1840/1860 packs all work.
When and where
Announced May 5, 2026. Confirmed pricing as of Sept 6, 2026: the XLT03Z ships bare at $279 (3-year limited warranty) and is available now at Acme Tools and Home Depot. The XLT04Z and XLT05Z are also in the lineup, at the same bare price, though stock varies by dealer. No kit option is available for any of the three.
Pricing tips: $279 bare is steep for an 18V specialty tool, and Makita’s own angle impact wrenches typically run $179 to $249. The value case here is the 390 ft-lbs nut-busting torque in a head low enough to clear wheel wells, HVAC hangers, and overhead steel connections. If you already run LXT packs, no new battery platform is required.
If you’re in the LXT ecosystem, this fills a genuine gap, angle fastening at real torque numbers without adding a second battery platform or dragging out the air compressor.
Source: Makita U.S.A. official announcement, May 5, 2026 (makitatools.com)
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